Camp Yavneh
| Camp Yavneh | |
|---|---|
Camp Yavneh Location within New Hampshire | |
| Location | Northwood, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 43°10′57″N 71°9′57″W / 43.18250°N 71.16583°W |
| Elevation | 496 ft |
| Campus size | 65 acres |
| Established | July 5, 1944[1] |
| Website | campyavneh |
Camp Yavneh (Hebrew: מחנה יבנה) is a 65-acre residential Jewish summer camp in Northwood, New Hampshire.[2] It was established in 1944 by the Boston Hebrew Teacher College under the leadership of Louis and Leah Hurwich, initially as a Hebrew study camp.[3][4]
Yavneh is accredited by the American Camp Association. It offers children aged 8–17 a camp environment where Jewish values and activities are emphasized. The camp is not affiliated with one religious movement, considering itself K'lal Yisrael (lit. 'all Jews are one').
Divisions (אדות)
The whole camp is divided into age groups (אדות):
Gurim (lion cubs): Rising 3rd and 4th graders
Gefen (grapes): Rising 5th and 6th graders
K'firim (young lions): Rising 7th graders
Arayot (lions): Rising 8th graders
Levi'im (lions): Rising 9th graders
Ma'alot (rising): Rising 10th graders
Kerem (vineyard): Rising 11th graders
In addition, there are three divisions for those too young for Gurim whose parents work at the camp.
Gan (garden): Infants
Nitzanim (buds): Toddlers
Parparim (butterflies): Young children
Na'aleh
Rising 12th graders have the option to participate in a six-week educational trip to Israel. This trip is called "Na'aleh" (נאלה). The trip is usually staffed by one or two mature counselors, who have worked at the camp for multiple years.
Counselors (מדריכים) and Rashei Eidot (ראשי אידות)
18-year-olds have the opportunity to return to camp as counselors. Sometimes, counselors return for multiple years as a counselor.
Every division has multiple counselors and one or two Rashei Eidot ("roshes"). Roshes must be a returning counselor, because they need more experience than their co-counselors.
References
- ^ Margolis, I. (1964). Jewish Teacher Training Schools in the United States. National Council for Torah Education of Hapoel Hamizrachi. p. 231.
- ^ "Campus". Camp Yavneh. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
- ^ Benor, S. B.; Krasner, J.; Avni, S. (2020). Hebrew Infusion: Language and Community at American Jewish Summer Camps. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-8875-9.
- ^ Gamoran, H. (2006). "The Roah to Chalutzim: Reform Judaism's Hebrew-Speaking Program". In Lorge, M. M.; Zola, G. P. (eds.). A Place of Our Own: The Rise of Reform Jewish Camping. University of Alabama Press. pp. 131–132. ISBN 978-0-8173-5293-6.